Juicy Sentences

Is writing your favorite subject to teach?  Well, I've come up with a creative way to help your little ones enjoy writing descriptive sentences. I have used this juicy method for years and I love to hear when my parents ask me, "Hmm, what are juicy sentences?"  '

Juicy sentences are basically descriptive sentences, but in a child-friendly and fun manner.  :) At the beginning of the year, I tell my firsties that they have to write a sentence that consists of 7 or more words.  They love to write "I love my mom."  I tell them to tell me why they love their mom and what makes her special to you.  Now, that's when my juicy sentences strategy comes into play.

We slowly build our Juicy Sentences anchor chart to include things that we learn across the weeks. So far, we have come up with these suggestions.  As the year progresses, we will add more lemon drops to include other writing articles like nouns, adjectives, verbs, pronouns, adverbs, and so forth.

Now that I'm a part of this great collaborative blog, this strategy means more to me now than ever! As I was creating the anchor chart with my fab daughter, I kept thinking of our Primary Punchbowl! I just had to tie the two together and I love to look at it every day to remind me of the special place these beautiful ladies have in my heart.

I have to give a huge shout-out to my daughter at Tides of Learning who is experiencing her first year of teaching! Of course, you know I'm a proud momma! I told her what I was going to do and she said "Mom, I will draw the chart for you. You just relax!"  How could I say no?!  So this chart reminds me of my fab friends and my forever baby! Oh man, now I need tissue.

Back on track...

I also tie in the strategy, CUPS: Capitals, Understanding, Punctuation, and Spacing and Spelling.  I learned about this great strategy from Kimberly Edgerton TpT Store and you can click here for her FREEBIE!

After a few weeks of drilling juicy sentences, then I tell the students to write a juicy sentence.  They exchange their journals and guess who is the teacher now?  Yup, they are! Can you hear the excitement?!!!  They use a "teacher's pen" and I guide them to check for CUPS.

What do you think? So how do you help your students develop a love for writing?  

What strategies do you incorporate?

Thanks for stopping by!
Whoop-Whoop from Elizabeth, First Grade Stripes